All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today took out torchlight marches across the state in protest against the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act 1955 to grant Hindu refugees all rights of citizens.
AASU said they will not accept giving a religious colour to the illegal Bangladeshi issue.
The powerful student's body took out torchlight marches across all district and sub-division headquarters along with many important towns in the state.
"The proposed amendment Bill is a threat to the identity of local people. Since Independence, North East is subjected to economic exploitation and political injustice. The latest Bill is another example of political injustice. The Centre is treating us as second class citizens," AASU Adviser Samujjwal Bhattacharya said.
He warned the Centre of sustained movements across Assam if the Bill was not withdrawn immediately.
Bhattacharya also appealed to political parties of Assam and North East to oppose the Bill as it violated the fundamental of Assam Accord, on whose basis National Register of Citizens is being updated with 1971 as base year.
He wondered if the Centre was actually encouraging infiltration by bringing in the amendment to the Citizenship Act.
The proposed 2016 Amendment Bill of the Citizenship Act 1955 is currently under consideration of the Joint Select Committee of the Parliament.
Except BJP, all other parties, intellectuals, student bodies and social organisations in Assam have opposed the proposed Amendment Bill.
Even NDA member and a part of the ruling coalition, Asom Gana Parishad has opposed the Bill and said any deviation from the Assam Accord will not be acceptable.
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